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The ultimate guide to Noosa camping, glamping and caravan parks

Carla GrossettiBy Carla Grossetti
Turn your North Coast NSW escape into an unforgettable adventure with a stay at the best Noosa caravan parks, camping and glamping spots.

Noosa caravan parks are a beacon for road-trippers. From camping and glamping sites aimed at couples to family-friendly parks with playgrounds and caravan parks that offer access to stunning national parks, here’s where to stay to enjoy all the region has to offer.  A mix of creature comforts, action-packed activity, and around-the-clock access to pure Sunshine Coast paradise is calling.

In short

If you only stay at one Noosa caravan park, make it Sixty6 Acres. The farm stay is for those who like camping, albeit with a high thread count. The property is located in Woombye, halfway between the bush and beach.

1. Noosa Eco Retreat

a woman holding a drink at Noosa Eco Retreat
Take in uninterrupted views of Mt Cooroora. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Best for: Couples

Stay in one of six spacious, self-contained eco-luxe yurts tucked away in the heart of Noosa’s biosphere in Tuchekoi National Park. The sustainable Noosa Eco Retreat offers uninterrupted views of Mt Cooroora and her jagged ridges. The 40-hectare property also provides the perfect jumping-off point for hikers and mountain bikers who want to tackle Noosa’s network of trails. During our last visit, we tackled Trail No. 5 before returning to our yurt, which offers a Noosa camping experience unlike any other. We enjoyed dinner on the deck under a starlit sky. Played birdwatching bingo. Then bunkered down in our own private space, fitted with a comfy king-sized bed.

Address: 44 Pomona Connection Road, Pomona

2. Habitat Noosa Everglades Ecocamp

kangaroos at Habitat Noosa Everglades Ecocamp
Find kangaroos roaming around Habitat Noosa Everglades Ecocamp. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Best for: Couples, families and groups

Noosa is best known for its proximity to some of Queensland’s best surf breaks. But a recent visit to Noosa Everglades allowed us to see Noosa anew. As one of only two Everglades systems on Earth, this large subtropical ecosystem feels like a place from another time. Habitat Noosa Everglades Ecocamp is fringed by this great forested finger of land in the upper reaches of the Noosa River. It has paperbark sites, safari tents, powered and unpowered sites for camping and motorhomes. Whether you’re behind the wheel of your new Star RV, or prefer a ceiling of canvas, there’s an eco campsite to suit.

Address: 204 Lake Flat Road, Boreen Point

3. Sixty6 Acres

a private suite with a tub at Sixty6 Acres
Sixty6 Acres is perfect for campers who like their creature comforts. (Image: Kelli Jean Black Photography)

Best for: Romantic getaways or a much-needed escape with friends and family.

Noosa is one of the most dreamed-about regions for campers and caravanners. And Sixty6 Acres has been designed to capitalise on the lush landscapes the Sunshine Coast has to offer. The brand-new luxurious farm stay near Noosa provides the perfect base camp for a rural escape with a mix of self-contained accommodation and 93 large, powered sites that will accommodate caravans, motorhomes, RVs, tents or swags. While Sixty6 Acres is designed for a peaceful stay, you won’t have to forgo creature comforts: the new Farmhouse restaurant and bar can pack you up with a coffee in the morning and sundowner at night. Forget roughing it: the property has seven heated magnesium plunge pools.

Address: Walden Road, Woombye

4. Ingenia Holidays Noosa North

the tent setup at Ingenia Holidays Noosa North
Camp on verdant greenery at Ingenia Holidays Noosa North.

Best for: Couples, families and groups

If your idea of roughing it is staying in a two-bedroom cabin near to a swimming pool then Ingenia Holidays Noosa North is your go-to. The Noosa caravan park gives you proximity to the chic seaside village without the designer price tag. The emphasis at Ingenia Holidays Noosa North is on the great outdoors, tapping into a growing trend to provide inspiration for travellers to unplug. During a recent holiday here with the extended family, we enjoyed excursions to the beach, and long bush walks. The best thing about a Noosa caravan park and campsite so close to the village is you can pop into the local bakery or nearby cafes for brunch and spend the arvo browsing Noosa’s most stellar boutiques and eateries.

Address: 143 Moorindil Street, Tewantin

5. BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Noosa

the family safari tent at BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Noosa
The spacious safari tent is a great base camp for families.

Best for: Large gatherings for families and friends

BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Noosa is just a few minutes’ drive away from Ingenia Holidays Noosa North. And like its sister property, this Noosa caravan park and campground is best suited for those who want a bit of outdoor immersion with the luxury of a hot shower and other amenities nearby. The Noosa caravan park and campground is aimed squarely at families; it features a giant jumping cushion, games room, seasonal outdoor cinema, shaded swimming pool, toddler splash area and roster of school holiday programs. Bunker down in comfort in a self-contained cabin. And stay within your budget by picking up some rissoles and snags for the barbecue. Note: Noosa Farmers’ Market is worth a jaunt to pick up supplies.

Address: 141 Cooroy Noosa Road, Tewantin.

6. Noosa River Holiday Park

campers relaxing at the Noosa River Holiday Park
Take your camping set-up to the next level by the Noosa River.

Best for: Couples, families and groups.

A tent is your ticket to having a wallet-friendly family holiday within a stone’s skip of the Noosa River. But you don’t have to get shin splints from sleeping on the rocky ground. Invest in an inflatable camp pillow and sleeping pad to take your camping set-up to the next level. Noosa River Holiday Park is an absolute riverfront caravan park and campground in Noosa that suits beachcombers, bushwalkers, surfers, fishos and everyone in between. There are powered and unpowered sites for campervans, camper trailers and tents as well as a picnic area with river views. Sleep under the stars in the most stunning of locales.

Address: 4 Russell Street, Noosaville

7. Noosa North Shore Beach Campground

the Noosa North Shore Beach Campground
Revel in flora and fauna at Noosa North Shore Beach Campground.

Best for: Couples, families and groups

The Noosa North Shore Beach Campground is sited on the highly Instagrammable Cooloola Coast, which stretches from Noosa all the way to K’gari on the Fraser Coast. At the campsite, which has more than 40 powered sites and 45 unpowered sites, you’ll find a host of bush and beach trails nearby where native fauna – such as kangaroos and goannas – roam free. This is the kind of playground that suits adventurers and outdoor enthusiasts. If cocktails by the pool are more your jam, consider our guide to the luxe accommodation options in Noosa and surrounds.

Address: 240 Wilderness Track, Noosa North Shore

8. Big4 Noosa North Shore Retreat Tourist Park

a glamping tent at Big4 Noosa North Shore Retreat Tourist Park
Elevate your camping experience in a glamping tent.

Best for: Those who want to try camping (glamping) for the first time

Tired of baked beans? Campers and caravanners staying at this Noosa caravan park and campground are just a short walk away from both a mini supermarket, bottle-o, and bar and bistro. The Big4 Noosa North Shore Retreat Tourist Park is on the edge of bushland on the fringes of the Great Sandy National Park making it a top spot for nature-lovers. But the family-friendly accommodation also suits a diverse mix of holidaymakers with three swimming pools, glamping tents and cosy cottages. Lean into the local lifestyle by hiring mountain bikes, canoes, surfboards and SUPs which are available as part of a two-for-one package.

Address: 1 Beach Road, Noosa North Shore

9. Tranquil Valley, Noosa

Best for: Couples and families who appreciate access to a hot tub

Farm Charm is one of the trends in travel identified by Expedia’s Unpack ’26 report. And this 30-odd-hectare property in Black Mountain makes camping look pretty darn fabulous. Voted as one of Hipcamp’s best farmstays in Australia , Tranquil Valley has powered campsites dotted around the property in the pretty Sunshine Coast hinterland. Feel that farm charm during a goat yoga session or farm tour where the air is scented with a deliciously pungent, earthy aroma that provides campers with a real sense of place. Enamoured with the cute dwarf goats? Well you’re going to want to bleat about the fact you can purchase one of the miniature animals as a pet.

Address: Black Mountain, Sunshine Coast

10. Boreen Point Campground

campers next to a lake at Boreen Point Campground
Camp next to a serene lake in Boreen Point Campground.

Best for: Active types who don’t mind a spot of free-range camping

All up, there are 19 powered sites and 55 unpowered sites at Boreen Point Campground, which offers easy access to both the bush and the beach. There’s also the option of free-range camping along the foreshore of Norm’s Beach on the banks of Lake Cootharaba. This lovely lakeside campground has a BMX track and basketball court, and kayaks and stand-up paddleboards available, making it a great getaway for action heroes who like to take advantage of the endless blue skies on the aptly named Sunshine Coast.

Address: The Esplanade, Boreen Point

11. Pomona Caravan Park

caravanning at Pomona Caravan Park
Set up your caravan within the picturesque hinterland. (Image: Noosa Show Society)

Ideal caravanning and camping for: Families and vanlifers travelling with pets

Pitch up to one of the spacious sites at the pet-friendly Pomona Caravan Park and you will be within walking distance of Pomona. Visit the picturesque hinterland town’s silent movie theatre or distillery. You’ll value a side trip to Ponoma when you return with a bottle of gin to enjoy over ice and paired with tonic in one of the campground’s shared social areas. It’s also worth the drive to Australia Zoo, one of the Sunshine Coast’s most popular attractions. This Noosa caravan park is quite basic, so don’t expect all the bells and whistles of a BIG4. However, what you can expect are showers, a camp kitchen, laundry facilities and the thrill of a velvety night sky studded with stars.

Address: Corner Exhibition and Pavilion Streets, Pomon

12. Cooloola Recreation Area in Great Sandy National Park

Best for: Nature lovers who love being immersed in Noosa’s landscapes

Cooloola Recreation Area presents the great outdoors like a grand theatre that stirs the spirit of those who gain a deep satisfaction from being immersed in nature. This campground near Noosa suits everyone from those with trailers and caravans, to digital nomads trying to make a go of #tentlife. Despite the different camping areas on offer, each is demarcated to provide spectacular access to the national park’s diverse forest and pristine beaches. Harrys Camping Area on the banks of the Upper Noosa River provides ample opportunity to kayak and paddle your days away. Meanwhile, the Upper Noosa River Camping Area 3 also draws day trippers in dinghies.

Address: Great Sandy National Park, Noosa

13. Lake Borumba Caravan & Camping Grounds

a tent setup at Lake Borumba Caravan & Camping Grounds
Set up your tents on the side of the creek at Lake Borumba Caravan & Camping Grounds.

Best for: Those who want to get to know Noosa beyond its beaches

Noosa is not all about the beaches. Those in the know understand there is also much to see and do in the lesser-known Noosa Outback. Lake Borumba Caravan & Camping Grounds is perfectly positioned to show another side to Noosa on the banks of Yabba Creek, about one kilometre from Lake Borumba. This creekside camping spot has a volleyball court and onsite kiosk with ice cream and offers free use of its kayaks. Campers here can gather around open fires so BYO marshmallows under a sky pinpricked with stars.

Address: 1484 Yabba Creek Road, Lake Borumba

14. Cooroy RV Stopover

Best for: Grey nomads keen on a caravan stopover

Need a safe spot to park your caravan for the night? Look no further. Cooroy RV Stopover in the charming little town of Cooroy is a parking site within walking distance from the main strip of Cooroy. Pull the wide hips of your caravan off the highway and into the leafy-green park just a 20-minute drive from Noosa Heads Main Beach. Make sure you’re fully self-sufficient when you arrive because the gates are locked at 7.30pm and don’t open up again until 7am the following morning. You can stay for up to four nights and bookings are essential via the website.

Address: 17 Mary River Road, Cooroy

15. Glamacamp

Best for: Couples and families looking for a stylish stay

The exotic bell and garden tents hired out by Glamacamp lack nothing when it comes to drama. Call ahead and arrange for a deluxe version of the stunning tents to be set up in the garden of your best friend’s holiday house in Noosa. You can have it styled to suit the occasion with beautiful things to eat and drink and music fizzing through the night. You can hire everything from a picnic basket with bone China and crystal stemware, to vintage sun chairs, BBQs and antique furniture. BYO Camilla Kaftan so you can swan around in the 6×9 Maharaja tent.

Address: Check out the website for private and specialty events.

Carla Grossetti
Carla Grossetti avoided accruing a HECS debt by accepting a cadetship with News Corp. at the age of 18. After completing her cadetship at The Cairns Post Carla moved south to accept a position at The Canberra Times before heading off on a jaunt around Canada, the US, Mexico and Central America. During her career as a journalist, Carla has successfully combined her two loves – of writing and travel – and has more than two decades experience switch-footing between digital and print media. Carla’s CV also includes stints at delicious., The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Australian, where she specialises in food and travel. Carla also based herself in the UK where she worked at Conde Nast Traveller, and The Sunday Times’ Travel section before accepting a fulltime role as part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK. Carla and has been freelancing for Australian Traveller for more than a decade, where she works as both a writer and a sub editor.
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What it’s really like to stay on the world’s largest sand island

    Kassia ByrnesBy Kassia Byrnes
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    Exploring the world’s largest sand island starts with the perfect K’gari homebase.

    The morning light is still soft, but it’s already a perfect sunny day. We left our K’gari homebase at Kingfisher Bay Resort  with our guide, Peter Meyer, at 9 am to make the most of our time to explore all that the world’s largest sand island holds. The size of K’gari is hard to grasp until you arrive here. This is no sandbar. Stretching 120 kilometres, unique lakes, mangrove systems, rainforest, 75 Miles of beach, historic shipwrecks, small townships and even one of Queensland’s best bakeries are all hidden within its bounds.

    But first, one of the island’s most iconic sights: the pure silica sand and crystal clear waters of Lake McKenzie.

    Laying eyes on it for the first time, I’m finally able to confirm that the photos don’t lie. The sand is pure white, without the merest hint of yellow. The water fades from a light halo of aqua around the edges to a deeper, royal blue, the deeper it gets (not that it’s particularly deep, six metres at most). The surface remains surprisingly undisturbed, like a mirror.

    Arriving with our guide before 10 am means that no one else is around when we get here. Which means we have the pleasure of breaking the smooth surface with our own ripples as we enter. As a self-confessed wimp with chilly water temperatures, my fears are quickly assuaged. Even in the morning, the water stays around 23 degrees – perfect for lazing about all day. But we have more sights to see.

    Exploring K’gari

    ariel of in lake mckenzie on k'gari fraser island
    Relax in the warm waters of Lake McKenzie. (Image: Ayeisha Sheldon)

    This was the Personalised 4WD tour offered by Kingfisher Bay Resort, and my absolute top pick of experiences. Over the course of the day, we had the freedom to create our own bespoke itinerary (plus a provided picnic lunch along the way), with an expert guide who had plenty of stories and local expertise to give context to what we were looking at. From the history of the SS Maheno shipwreck, which survived the First World War only to be washed ashore by a cyclone in 1935, to a detailed description of how an island made of sand could sustain such diverse flora.

    If it’s your first time to K’gari, the Beauty Spots Tour is another great option. Departing daily from Kingfisher Bay Resort (you’ll start to notice a trend, as many of the tours do start and end here), an air-conditioned, 4WD bus takes guests to the island’s most iconic locations, including the best places to swim, like Lake McKenzie and Eli Creek. The latter offers a gentle current, perfect for riding with a blow-up tyre out towards the ocean.

    The next day, for a look at a completely different side of K’gari, I joined one of Kingfisher Bay Resort’s Immersive Ranger-guided tours to kayak through the mangroves of Dundonga Creek. This long, snake-like stretch of creek winds its way inland from the ocean outlet we entered by, at times too narrow for three kayaks to be side-by-side. Small insects buzz from leaf to leaf, while birds call overhead. Occasional bubbles indicate we’ve passed some fish that call this place home.

    kayak tour through the mangroves at k'gari island
    Learn about the island’s mangroves from your Ranger. (Image: Reuben Nutt/ TEQ)

    If kayaking isn’t for you – or if, like me, you simply want more – other ranger-led experiences include nature walks and a dedicated Junior Eco Ranger Program for kids ages five to 12 (these run every weekend, and daily over the peak December holidays). Just ask for a timetable of upcoming tours when you check in.

    While during whale season, Hervey Bay Whale Watch & Charters operates tours from the hotel’s jetty to get up close to the famous Humpback Highway of Hervey Bay, from 7 November to 31 May, attention turns to the Aqua Oasis Cruise . Departing from the resort every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday for resort guests, adventure along the island’s remote western coast, pointing out wildlife like dolphins, turtles, flying fish and eagles along the way.

    The cruise drops anchor so guests can jump into the water using the boat’s equipment – from SUP boards to inflatable slides and jumping platforms. Then refuel with a provided lunch, of course.

    Unwind at sunset

    two people drinking cocktails at sunset bar, kingfisher bay resort
    Unwind at the Sunset Bar. (Image: Sean Scott)

    As much as days on K’gari can be filled with adventure, to me, the afternoons and evenings there are for unwinding. Sunsets on K’gari are absolutely unbelievable, with Kingfisher Bay on the west side being the best spot to catch the colours.

    The Sunset Bar , located at the start of the resort’s jetty and overlooking the beach, is the ultimate location for sundowners. Let chill beats wash over you as you sip on cool wines, beers and cocktails in a relaxed, friendly vibe. Personally, a cheese board was also absolutely called for. As the sun sinks, the sand, sea and horizon turn a vibrant shade of orange, with the jetty casting a dramatic shadow across the water.

    When the show is over, head back to the hotel for dinner at the Asian-fusion Dune restaurant, or the pub-style Sand + Wood. But if your appetite is still whetted for more lights and colours, the evening isn’t over yet.

    Settle into the Illumina stage for Return to Sky, an immersive light and sound show leading viewers on a captivating journey through K’gari’s stories and landscapes.

    Indulge and disconnect

    woman setting up massage room at kingfisher bay resort Island Day Spa
    Find bliss at Island Day Spa. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

    Of course, there is a type of traveller who knows that balance is important, day or night. While Kingfisher Bay Resort offers more than one pool for guests to spend all day lounging by (they’ll even serve you food and drinks while you do it), you’ll find me at the Island Day Spa.

    The masseuses could match the magic hands of any big city spa, and I felt the warm welcome as I walked into the light, breezy reception. Choose from a range of botanical facials, beauty treatments and soothing massages using traditional techniques (obviously, I couldn’t go past a relaxing massage). All products used contain organic, native botanical ingredients with nutrient-rich plant extracts to soothe skin and mind. To really indulge, try out one of the packages, couples treatment or even a pre-wedding day offering.

    Getting there

    kingfisher bay resort 4wd tour driving passed ss maheno on k'gari island
    The world of K’gari awaits. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

    Getting to K’gari is shockingly easy. Find daily flights into Hervey Bay from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Kingfisher Bay Resort offers a shuttle bus between the airport, their headquarters in Hervey Bay and the ferry to take you to K’gari.